Gov. Tom Ridge this week signed a bill designating I-80's Blakeslee Exit 43, which leads to the Pocono International Raceway, as the Richard Petty exit.

That number, 43, was the number of the car that Petty drove, explained Rep. George C. Hasay, the Luzerne County Republican who sponsored the bill. "They (raceway representatives) felt it would help the out-of-towners find the exit easier, and in the interest of tourist promotion, they felt it would help."

Dr. Joseph Mattioli, raceway founder, said that a visitor 2-1/2 years ago referred to the Blakeslee exit as "Exit 43, the Richard Petty exit."

Mattioli said he and his wife, Rose, "looked at each other and kind of laughed about it, then we forgot about it."

But the more they thought about what the visitor said, "We thought it might be a good idea," recalled Mattioli, who credited his wife with keeping the idea alive in Harrisburg.

"Anybody going east and west is going to remember that exit," the raceway founder added.

Bob Uguccioni, executive director of the Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau in Stroudsburg, said it is only appropriate to put Petty's name on an exit that leads to Pocono International Raceway.

"It's most certainly a very famous name for a very famous exit in racing," said Uguccioni.

Monroe County Commissioner James E. Cadue, who struck up a friendship with Petty while the racer doubled as commissioner of Randolph County, N.C., predicted the highway signs would bring additional recognition to Monroe County.

"The fact that we have an exit in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, that recognizes a true champion I think is good publicity for the area, Cadue said. "Richard Petty is a legitimate folk hero and he's a good ambassador for racing and a goodwill ambassador in general for athletes."

Despite their differing political ideologies -- Cadue is a Democrat and Petty a Republican --the two have whiled away hours in a trailer at Pocono Raceway talking about county issues such as prison construction, millage rates and school taxes.

The recently retired Petty, who raced about 35 times at Pocono, is expected to be among the more than 100,000 people watching the next NASCAR race July 16 at Long Pond. Mattioli already has honored the driver by naming a victory lane for him.

Ridge spokesman John L. Taylor, who called Petty "a champion race-car driver and an advocate for highway safety," said signs will likely be erected by PennDOT within two months.

Pennsylvania State Police are hoping Petty's signs remain up longer than those of radio shock-jock Stern. In New Jersey, a placard on a restroom at the Howard Stern Rest Stop on I-295 in Burlington County lasted only four days before being lifted by thieves on March 25.